Veterans tell of
wartime perils
By Brian Charles Staff Writer
PASADENA — Those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of the
United States were honored in an emotionally moving ceremony on Thursday at Pasadena City College.
Flags lined the area around the
onyx-colored Memorial Wall at PCC,
where the college's Veterans Club sponsored the event.
Dignitaries and veterans recalled
their memories of fellow soldiers
killed in battle and their sacrifices in
the name of freedom.
"Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Marine Corps veteran Arthur Borgquist, commander of
VFW Post 7799 and a Vietnam War
veteran. "They gave their tomorrows
for our todays."
Borgquist recalled a fellow Marine
named Jimmy who died in combat,
saying he hopes to reunite with his
friend in the afterlife.
"I know the day will come that I will
walk through the gates of heaven,
those Marines will be there and I will
see Jimmy," he said.
The speech elicited tears from the
dozens who sat on the lawn adjacent
to the memorial. Many of them were
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan now
enrolled at PCC to begin the next
phase of their lives, PCC board member Bill Thomson said.
"There has been a movement to put
together a place for veterans to meet
and communicate," Thomson said.
"Out of that event, this memorial service was born."
Harold Martin teaches the Boots to
g sacntices
Photos by Sarah Reingewirtz Staff Photographer
Salvador Recinos, far right, of the U.S. Army Reserve and a molecular
biology student at PCC, sits with student veterans during Pasadena City
College's Veterans Club's Memorial Day-related ceremony honoring
veterans on Thursday at PCC's Memorial Wall.
ONLINE EXTRA
To view more photos of the
ceremony, visit our website at:
pasadenastarnews.com.
sends its young to war — the life of
memories and accomplishments all of
those killed in war never get to enjoy.
He also reminded the crowd of the
total loss suffered in battle, singling
out those often-overlooked casualties
of war: those who take their own lives
as a result of post-traumatic stress.
"Let us mourn and honor those who
don't receive a military funeral, whose
families don't receive a folded flag, or
a letter from the president," said Martin. "They, too, are our war dead."
briaifixliarles#sg¥nxc@m
Veteran Harold Martin, a Pasadena
City College Boots to Books
instructor, pays tribute to his peers.
Books course for returning veterans at
PCC. The class aims to help veterans
adjust not only to civilian life but prepares them for college.
Martin, a veteran, talked about the
callousness in which the country often

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Veterans tell of
wartime perils
By Brian Charles Staff Writer
PASADENA — Those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of the
United States were honored in an emotionally moving ceremony on Thursday at Pasadena City College.
Flags lined the area around the
onyx-colored Memorial Wall at PCC,
where the college's Veterans Club sponsored the event.
Dignitaries and veterans recalled
their memories of fellow soldiers
killed in battle and their sacrifices in
the name of freedom.
"Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Marine Corps veteran Arthur Borgquist, commander of
VFW Post 7799 and a Vietnam War
veteran. "They gave their tomorrows
for our todays."
Borgquist recalled a fellow Marine
named Jimmy who died in combat,
saying he hopes to reunite with his
friend in the afterlife.
"I know the day will come that I will
walk through the gates of heaven,
those Marines will be there and I will
see Jimmy," he said.
The speech elicited tears from the
dozens who sat on the lawn adjacent
to the memorial. Many of them were
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan now
enrolled at PCC to begin the next
phase of their lives, PCC board member Bill Thomson said.
"There has been a movement to put
together a place for veterans to meet
and communicate," Thomson said.
"Out of that event, this memorial service was born."
Harold Martin teaches the Boots to
g sacntices
Photos by Sarah Reingewirtz Staff Photographer
Salvador Recinos, far right, of the U.S. Army Reserve and a molecular
biology student at PCC, sits with student veterans during Pasadena City
College's Veterans Club's Memorial Day-related ceremony honoring
veterans on Thursday at PCC's Memorial Wall.
ONLINE EXTRA
To view more photos of the
ceremony, visit our website at:
pasadenastarnews.com.
sends its young to war — the life of
memories and accomplishments all of
those killed in war never get to enjoy.
He also reminded the crowd of the
total loss suffered in battle, singling
out those often-overlooked casualties
of war: those who take their own lives
as a result of post-traumatic stress.
"Let us mourn and honor those who
don't receive a military funeral, whose
families don't receive a folded flag, or
a letter from the president," said Martin. "They, too, are our war dead."
briaifixliarles#sg¥nxc@m
Veteran Harold Martin, a Pasadena
City College Boots to Books
instructor, pays tribute to his peers.
Books course for returning veterans at
PCC. The class aims to help veterans
adjust not only to civilian life but prepares them for college.
Martin, a veteran, talked about the
callousness in which the country often

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